Christmas Day bombing: Sokoto faults trial

The alleged mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing of the St Theresa Catholic Church, Madalla, Niger State, Kabiru Umar aka Kabiru Sokoto has faulted his trial and asked the court to set him free.

In his no-case submission, Umar argued that the prosecution has failed to produce sufficient evidence to link him with the charges of terrorism leveled against him.

He urged the court to discharge and acquit him.

The suspect argued that the proof of evidence before the court did not link him to the alleged crimes.

He contended that the evidence so far led by the prosecution failed to establish any offence against him

Umar’s position is contained in a written brief he filed in court, a copy of which The Nation sighted on Friday.

He contended that while the state accused him of “facilitating the commission of terrorist act by planting and encouraging some boys (now at large) at Mabira Sokoto, in Sokoto State with the intention of bombing the police headquarters and some other government agencies in the state” the government failed to bring any of the boys he allegedly planted and encouraged to testify against him.

He said rather than bringing the boys whom the operatives of the State Security Service claimed gave them information about how he encouraged them to bomb police headquarters and other government agencies in Sokoto, he said the Federal Government brought operatives of the SSS who came to court to give hear-say evidence which has no “probative value. “

Umar argued that the prosecution failed to lead evidence to establish how he facilitated the commission of terrorist acts.

Nigerian Justice system is a failure. Court is still toying with the case of someone acclaimed to have perpetuated the murder of 44 worshipers in a church through an act of terrorism. Always playing politics with the life of Nigerians. I believe they may have understood the statement made by the United States on the apprehension of Abubakar Shekau.” If caught, he may face charges in US.” It is an indication that our legal system is not trusted!